STI Seminar: The Role of SBIR Awards for the University based Start-ups

NUS Entrepreneurship Centre: Science, Technology & Innovation Policy Research Seminar
The Role of SBIR Awards for the University based Start-ups

The effectiveness of SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) in the growth and success of start-ups has been a longstanding topic of interest. This study uses event history data for 533 University of California start-ups from 2000-2013 that were established to commercialize university-licensed technology. We explore the extent to which how SBIR affects three critical outcomes: receiving venture capital funding, successful exit (IPO or merger), or bankruptcy. We show that SBIR awards and venture capital fundings are substitutes rather than complements. Start-ups receiving SBIR awards and venture capital funding are rarely overlapped. Further, we examine the growth trajectories of two types of start-ups. Policy implications are discussed.

Kanetaka Maki holds a Ph.D in Management from the University of California, San Diego. He also serves as Visiting Assistant Professor of University of California, San Diego and Affiliated Fellow at National Institute of Science and Technology Policy. Prior to joining GRIPS, Maki has worked at Stanford University and Keio University. His specialties are Science Policy and Entrepreneurship. His current research interests are "The success factor of university-based startups" and "Comparison study of innovation system between the US and Japan".